College Sports

‘I Believe He Can Play in the NFL’: Thor Griffith Prepares for Pro Football Career | Sports

Thor C. Griffith ’24 has always been an athlete. As a kid, he was a stellar ice hockey player and a great heavyweight wrestler. When Harvard Football’s legendary Head Coach, Tim Murphy, saw videos of Griffith playing hockey, he knew he needed him on his football team. “The drills were elite to the point I […]

Published

2 weeks ago

April 26, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Thor C. Griffith ’24 has always been an athlete. As a kid, he was a stellar ice hockey player and a great heavyweight wrestler.

When Harvard Football’s legendary Head Coach, Tim Murphy, saw videos of Griffith playing hockey, he knew he needed him on his football team.

“The drills were elite to the point I said to Thor, ‘That can’t be you,’” Coach Murphy explained. “To which he said, ‘Coach, that is me!! I was a top 100 hockey player in the U.S. when I was 12 years old.’”

Griffith declared for the 2025 NFL Draft this past January, hoping, alongside former Crimson teammates Tyler Neville and Matthew Hudson, to join the few Harvard Football alumni in the National Football League.

The 320-pound, six-foot-two defensive tackle looks like a strong prospect in the upcoming draft, having proved that he can compete at a high collegiate level in both the Ivy League and ACC.

Griffith kick-started his football career in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where he excelled in the Portsmouth Clippers jersey. By his junior year of high school, Griffith was sending out highlight reels and workout videos to a variety of college coaches in an attempt to get recruited.

Portsmouth, a small town in New England, is not known for having a particularly strong football program or for sending athletes to play at the competitive Division 1 level.

Thankfully for Harvard’s football team, Coach Murphy was one of the few collegiate coaches to respond to Griffith’s messages.

“Thor was an interesting kid in that people now assume he was a highly recruited major college athlete out of high school. That wasn’t the case,” said Coach Murphy. “He came to our Summer Camp after his junior year in high school as a defensive lineman from New Hampshire. After camp was over, we sat down and talked about the top student-athletes who had come to campus and which kids had the three things we believe in to have success at Harvard and in the Ivy League.”

During the recruiting process, Coach Murphy and his Harvard coaching staff looked for players who were very strong students, with great personal character, all while having true Division 1 athletic potential.

At the beginning of Griffith’s recruiting period, Coach Murphy said that his coaching staff didn’t believe Thor was a good enough player, which caused them to “move on to other recruits for his position.”

In addition to his success on the ice, Griffith’s heavyweight wrestling videos, in which he tosses around a 280-pound opponent “like a rag doll,” also helped convey his natural strength and competitiveness.

Griffith lines up for a snap against St. Thomas.

Murphy explained that these clips, showcasing Griffith’s inherent athleticism, were the deciding factor in offering him a position on the Harvard team.

“He was clearly an elite athlete, albeit a huge one who did not have much football coaching or history,” Murphy said. “I told our staff, ‘We are taking this kid based on his potential,’ and the rest is history, as he is one of the top Defensive Linemen in Harvard Football history.”

“That’s kind of where it all started,” said Griffith while reflecting on his official commitment to the Crimson program.

Despite the initial excitement of committing to Harvard, Griffith’s first fall at Harvard in 2020 was unconventional due to COVID-19 restrictions. The Ivy League, notoriously strict in imposing regulations to stop the spread of the virus, completely cancelled the 2020 football season.

Although he lost a year of competition in the Crimson jersey, Griffith had an extremely momentous career at Harvard. He played in every single game for his remaining three seasons, notching an impressive 132 tackles. Among his many achievements, Griffith also claimed the title of All-Ivy League First Team, AFCA All-America Second Team, and FCS Football Central All-America Second Team.

Off the field, Griffith lived in Eliot House and pursued a concentration in economics with a secondary in Celtic Languages and Literature.

He credits his niche passion for Celtic culture to Harvard’s renowned Professor Gregory Nagy.

“My junior year, a couple of guys on the team and I took one of Professor Nagy’s classes in Celtic Languages and Literature,” Griffith said. “I thought it was super interesting. During my last semester, I only had to take two more classes to get the secondary. I was like, ‘Why not?’”

Although Harvard and the other Ancient Eight schools are not known for churning out NFL players, Griffith does not regret the time he spent in Cambridge. He also cites the rigorous Ivy League education for helping him mentally prepare to compete at a higher level and train for the NFL Draft.

“I really enjoyed my time at Harvard,” Griffith explained. “I feel like I wouldn’t have had such a great experience anywhere else, especially with all the people I’ve met, all my teammates, and all the friends I’ve made.”

When Griffith ran out of eligibility at Harvard, he decided to take his 5th year to pursue his dream of playing in the NFL. As he entered the portal, he received significant attention from serious football programs. Eventually, he selected the University of Louisville.

Griffith attributes his decision largely to the coaching program at Louisville, particularly crediting the defensive line coach Mark Hagen.

“I went on an official visit there, and just being there for the weekend, seeing the city, seeing the fans, seeing the facilities, I just fell in love with the area and the program and bought into what Coach Hagen was saying,” he said.

Griffith committed to the Cardinals that weekend, officially bringing his athletic skill to the Power Four. Despite making the jump from the Football Championship Subdivision, which the Ivy League competes in, to the more intense Football Bowl Subdivision, Griffith felt prepared.

“I did notice guys being a little more hesitant, thinking like hey, this guy is from the Ivy League,” Griffith said. “Is he really that good at football? Can he really compete at this level?”

Although fans and opponents initially doubted his ability to perform at a higher level, Griffith played a crucial role in all 13 of Louisville’s games this past fall. He completed 14 solo tackles and 21 total tackles in addition to three sacks for an overall loss of 16 yards.

Immediately after the conclusion of his season with the Cardinals, Griffith set his sights on the NFL Draft. He prepared for the combine and his Pro Day, when the professional teams send scouts to the major football programs to watch all of their draft candidates compete.

Griffith trained in Florida at Bommarito Performance Systems, a high-intensity training facility run by Pete Bommarito. Bommarito specializes in preparing collegiate football players for the NFL Combine, so Griffith worked out there from January until his Louisville Pro Day in March.

During these showcases, athletes are not just asked to play football, but are also observed sprinting, benching, doing the five-ten-five test, among other activities.

“When I was training for my Pro Day, it was like I wasn’t training for football anymore,” Griffith explained. “It’s more about gearing your training towards technique and muscle endurance. It was nothing that I did or that any of the other guys I was training with had done before.”

Thanks to the months spent in grueling training, Griffith excelled in his Pro Day. He ran a 4.9-second 40-yard dash and showed off his strength by completing 42 bench press reps at 225 pounds.

The time spent in Florida, though, was “mentally and physically taxing, since you’re trying to push yourself to your maximum limit during training every day,” said Griffith.

He attributes Harvard to helping him get through the challenging past few months.

“Not only did I have to prepare for games week in and week out, but also spend so many hours practicing, watching film, lifting, while at the same time balancing Harvard academics,” explained Griffith. “I learned how to balance that and handle super stressful situations.”

“I felt like Harvard really did prepare me to handle this process in a mental capacity, as I am used to the continuous work, work, work, work, every day mentality,” he added.

Now, after years of training, Griffith will wait for his phone to ring come draft night.

“It’s exciting but stressful at the same time,” Griffith said. “It’s one of the first times in my life where football is no longer a guarantee.”

Harvard, Louisville, and Portsmouth fans alike will keep a close eye on the later rounds of the draft in hopes that Griffith will, in fact, get that phone call and secure a contract from a professional team.

Throughout his career, Griffith has risen to the top of each team that he has been on. He has proved that he is a gritty and determined athlete. He is ready, both physically and mentally, to take his talents to the NFL.

“I believe he will get an NFL contract, and I believe he can play in the NFL,” Coach Murphy shared. “Thor’s a great kid, and I believe he will make it.”

– Staff Writer Isabel C. Smail can be reached at isabel.smail@thecrimson.com

College Sports

Mt. Ararat principal lays out plan to move forward from hazing ordeal

Amy Spelke, left, chair of the Maine School Administrative District 75 school board, and Heidi O’Leary, the district’s superintendent, listen to public comments on the investigation into the Mt. Ararat hockey team hazing incident on Thursday. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald TOPSHAM — Before a crowd of parents and others gathered Thursday for the Maine School […]

Published

10 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

TOPSHAM — Before a crowd of parents and others gathered Thursday for the Maine School Administrative District 75 school board meeting, Mt. Ararat High School Principal Chris Hoffman had a clear goal: Turn the page from a hazing ordeal that embroiled the school’s boys hockey team this winter.

“I’m nervous tonight,” he said. “It’s not the public speaking – I do that all the time – it’s that I want to get this right. I want our student athletes to know they have the support of their leaders and their community.”

Hoffman spent several minutes outlining the steps the district has taken and plans to take in a presentation entitled “Ensuring a Healthy, Supportive Athletic Culture at MTA.” It included extra training, more supervision, better communication and team building, and accountability.

He stressed that the process has only begun and he urged board members and those in the audience to work collaboratively in the coming months to ensure success.

Late last month, the school district released a two-page summary of what was learned during a monthslong investigation that began in early January — a pattern of student misconduct that “intended to embarrass or humiliate the target” and violated district policies. At least four students on the hockey team were subjected to hazing that was described as “physical aggression and/or intimidation” and “sexually inappropriate conduct.”

That summary did not include any recommendations for discipline or policy changes, but both SAD 75 Superintendent Heidi O’Leary and board Chair Amy Spelke said at the time that conversations would continue.

Prior to Hoffman’s presentation, during the public comment period before school board meeting, a handful of parents and community members spoke out harshly about the investigation.

Andrea Cram, of Bowdoin, whose son was on the team, said the way it was handled “shattered trust and inflicted real harm.” Cram went on to say that she believes the investigation was not neutral but “leading and manipulative.”

“Efforts to restore the program are appreciated, but they do not undo the damage,” she said.

Andrea Cram, whose son is on the Mt. Ararat hockey team, speaks about her dissatisfaction with the investigation into the hazing incident during public comments at a MSAD 75 school board meeting on Thursday. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald

Margaret Schmoll, whose son is a student at Lisbon High School but plays on the Mt. Ararat hockey team, said she was “dumbfounded” by the investigation.

Like Cram, Schmoll said the investigation did not “paint the entire picture.”

“You had no interest in making it right or changing the false narrative that you created,” she said.

Hoffman, O’Leary and SAD 75 board members sat quietly during the public comments and didn’t engage with any speakers, many of whom stayed behind to hear the principal’s presentation.

The hazing allegations surfaced in January and represented the third high-profile case in Maine since 2021. Two senior players, along with head coach A.J. Kavanaugh and assistant coach Todd Ridlon, were suspended during the investigation, although O’Leary repeatedly emphasized that the move was not necessarily an indication of guilt.

Former Mt. Ararat boys hockey coach AJ Kavanaugh, seen here in a file photo from March 2022. Andree Kehn/Sun Journal

Kavanaugh resigned in February, long before the investigation was completed, and is now coaching a youth team based in Lewiston. Once he resigned, Kavanaugh was no longer part of the investigation. He has declined to speak to the Press Herald about the matter.

His resignation came after Mt. Ararat’s season came to an abrupt end following a game in which parents showed support for a suspended player by wearing matching shirts with his number on them. Some players put stickers on their helmets with the number as well. That public show of support during the team’s senior night devolved into reports of taunting and unsportsmanlike conduct from both adults and players, and it created what O’Leary called at the time “a highly charged and divisive environment on the ice, in the locker room, and in the stands.” She responded by canceling the rest of the season.

The investigation continued and eventually involved interviews with 31 individuals — including all members of the co-op team that includes players from SAD 75, as well as nearby Lisbon High School and Morse High School in Bath — and revealed a pattern of behavior that included “the use of homophobic language, intentional urination on teammates in the shower, humping teammates in the locker room while nude, taunting with sexually inappropriate gestures, and other degrading and unwelcome conduct.”

When the school district released the summary of the investigation’s findings, O’Leary and Spelke said a full report contained confidential information and therefore could not be released. The Press Herald requested the report via Maine’s Freedom of Access Act on the grounds that just because documents contain confidential information doesn’t mean they are exempt from public release. In many cases, sensitive information can simply be redacted. The district, in response to that request, said it “will be reviewing the investigative report with legal counsel to determine whether any portion constitutes a public record under FOAA.”

The controversy involving the Mt. Ararat ice hockey team comes on the heels of two other major hazing investigations involving a Maine high school sports team. Last fall, the Lisbon High School football team forfeited half its season after allegations of hazing surfaced. And in 2021, the Brunswick High School football team ended its season early after officials investigated claims of hazing.

High-profile cases of hazing have occurred in other states as well, including this month in upstate New York, where 11 high school students and members of the lacrosse team face criminal charges for hazing a younger player.

A 2020 study by Ohio University found that 47% of high school students say they experienced hazing in sports before they entered college.

The MSAD 75 school board listens to Ken Stockford speak during public comment at a meeting on Thursday. Stockford, whose son plays hockey for Mt. Ararat, asked the board to help ensure there is a season next year for his son’s senior year. Brianna Soukup/Portland Press Herald

Some hazing experts, like University of Maine professor Elizabeth Allan, the founder of the research group StopHazing, say more can be done to combat hazing.

“Schools are doing more than ever before to educate about it,” Allan told the Press Herald last fall. “But we still have a long way to go. … It’s easy to say ‘Oh, that’s not a problem here at our school.’ However, the research shows that it’s far more pervasive than people typically think.”

Hoffman said the district plans to partner with StopHazing to study team cultures and develop a plan to prevent problematic behaviors.

“I’m looking forward to working with Mt. Ararat to develop and implement recommendations based on the findings and their knowledge of school dynamics,” Allan said in an email.

The district also said it’s working to restore the hockey team to competition next year.

Because the team ended the season by forfeiting a game, it faces a two-year suspension under rules set by the Maine Principals’ Association. The district has appealed that decision and the appeal will be heard in early September. The last two teams that faced suspensions because of hazing incidents won their appeals.

If and when the Mt. Ararat hockey team returns to competition, though, it no longer will include players fromLisbon High School, O’Leary said in a letter to the community this month. The decision was mutual. Mt. Ararat still plans to invite players from Morse High School.

But some players from this year won’t return.

Jason MacDonald said his son, who will be a senior next year, has transferred to another school because of the ordeal. McDonald wasn’t surprised by any of the findings, and he was glad the investigation happened, but he found it lacking.

“My concern is that there is still no accountability for those in leadership positions,” he said. “There were people who knew about issues with this hockey team even before the season started, and they did nothing.”

Link

College Sports

Student-Athlete Spotlight: Tyler Nelson, UW-Whitewater

Story Links Each week during the 2024-25 academic year, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) will feature two student-athletes (one male and one female) from one of its eight institutions for a “Student-Athlete Spotlight” Q & A segment. The segments will be posted every Thursday and individuals are selected by the institution. […]

Published

27 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Each week during the 2024-25 academic year, the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) will feature two student-athletes (one male and one female) from one of its eight institutions for a “Student-Athlete Spotlight” Q & A segment. The segments will be posted every Thursday and individuals are selected by the institution. The WIAC Student-Athlete Spotlights are presented by Culver’s.

Name:  Tyler Nelson

Institution:  UW-Whitewater

Hometown (High School): Waunakee, Wis. (Waunakee High School)

Year in school: Junior

Sport: Men’s Tennis

Major:  Physics

Minor:  Mathematics

Why did you choose UW-Whitewater?

I liked the school and what it had to offer.

What other clubs/organizations on campus are you involved in?

I’m the captain of a collegiate esports team.

What do you like most about competing in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and being a NCAA Division III student-athlete?

I like the team atmosphere, and the people I get to train and compete with.

What is your favorite…

Menu item from Culver’s?  Buffalo Tenders

Flavor of the Day from Culver’s?  Chocolate Volcano

Non-Athletic Spot on Campus?  University Center

TV Show?  A Series of Unfortunate Events

Holiday?  Christmas

Food?  Steak

Animal?  Koala

Smartphone App? Spotify

Musical Group or Artist?  Sleep Token

Professional Sports Athlete or Team?  Roger Federer

Vacation Spot?  Mountains in Colorado

What is your greatest sports moment?

Clinching against Pomona freshman year.

What is your favorite thing to do off the court/field with your teammates?

Doing anything off the court with teammates is fun.

Who is someone that you look up to?

My parents.

Do you have any words of advice for younger/upcoming student-athletes?

Enjoy the time you have competing, it won’t last forever.

One word that describes you?

Relaxed.

What is your dream job?

Working in private physics research.

A non-athletic talent that you have is?

Drumming.

Do you have any pre-game/pre-event superstitions or rituals? If so, what are they?

I always listen to music before a match, it helps me relax and focus.

# # # # #

Link

College Sports

Mack Brown Reveals Why Oregon Ducks’ Dan Lanning Thriving In NIL Era: ‘Money Isn’t Only Thing’

DALLAS – Oregon Ducks coach Dan Lanning addressed the “confusing” state of college football while providing a positive outlook on the future of the sport in regards to the strong people it can build. Lanning spoke on the topic as he was awarded the prestigious Stallings Award for humanitarianism at the Dallas Country Club on […]

Published

44 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

“I think everybody in this room realizes football is confusing right now, especially at the college level,” Lanning said as he accepted his award. “There’s a lot of us that might not love everything about college football, but I will tell you this, as confusing as it is, it’s an unbelievable sport that has the opportunity to influence, build, and grow young men into unbelievable humans.”

College football has experienced massive changes since the NCAA enacted a new policy allowing athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL) in 2021. The transfer portal adds another layer to the seismic differences in the landscape. Now, a college head coach is tasked with juggling recruiting, transfers, NIL deals… all while attempting to create a stable and winning culture the breeds great people and athletes.

“The path might be different. It’s not necessarily harder, but the path might be different,” Lanning said. “So we’ll continue to adjust, to compete to be the best of the best. And I’m not talking about on the field. I’m talking about what we’re able to do off the field. I’m talking about every one of us in this room, our ability to influence others.”

Lanning’s ability to adjust and connect with his players through his transparency stands out among the rest. Lanning made history to become the first Oregon coach to win the Stallings Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership, character and achievement in college football.

The Stallings award is unique in it’s the only coach-selected honor in a recognition of peers. Two of the previous winners of the award, former Texas Longhorns coach Mack Brown and former TCU coach Gary Patterson attended and celebrated Lanning’s achievements.

Patterson and Brown weighed in on why they think Lanning is thriving in the ever-changing college football landscape.

“Eugene a great place, and (Lanning) treats people right,” Patterson told Oregon Ducks on SI reporter Bri Amaranthus. “Everybody inside of the business knows who the best coaches are, who the good people are, and Coach Lanning fits both those categories.”

Brown addressed Oregon’s relationship with Nike and co-founder Phil Knight, while maintaining that Lanning’s success goes beyond it.

“Oregon has a very aggressive and passionate fan base, and they have tremendous facilities,” Brown told Amaranthus. “Mr. Phil Knight is a friend of ours, and there’s no better booster in America. He’s a guy who’s gonna make sure that they have every advantage at Oregon, the same they have at Ohio State and Texas and Georgia and Alabama and all over the country.”

“We also have seen that money is not the only thing you have to have. You have to have charisma. You have to have energy. You have to have knowledge. You have to have a plan. And Dan’s got all of it,” Brown continued.

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Lanning’s reliability is huge recruiting tool for the Ducks. As his name gets thrown in the hat for new job opportunities, Lanning has reiterated over and over that he wants to be Oregon’s coach for as long as the Ducks will have him.

Eugene has become home for Dan, Sauphia and their three boys Caden, Kniles, and Titan. What does Eugene mean to Lanning?

“Everything,” Lanning told Amaranthus. “It is one of the things I didn’t know when I got to Eugene, and I’ve absolutely fallen in love with it. That’s become really special. We wanted to find a place where not only we could coach, but an opportunity to compete to win, and we could raise our kids. And we totally love it. Not just the people, but the topography.”

Lanning said his family loves taking advantage of the proximity to the coast, mountains and often hikes Spencer’s Butte.

The Ducks experienced even more change in 2024 as new members of the expanded 18-team Big Ten Conference. Lanning is fresh off leading the Ducks to a Big Ten championship in their inaugural year in the conference. Lanning and the Ducks achieved the first 13-0 start in program history, earning the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff and a berth in the Rose Bowl.

College football will continue to adjust as new iterations to NIL, transfer portal and the College Football Playoff are suggested. Lanning plans to stay flexible as the shifts continue.

Oregon Ducks’ Dan Lanning Discusses NIL, Transfer Portal Strategy

Link

College Sports

GAME DAY | U.S. Opens Men’s Worlds Today vs. Denmark

The meeting between the U.S. and Denmark will be the 10th in the IIHF Men’s World Championship history. The U.S. is 7-0-1-1 (W-OTW-OTL-L) all-time against the Danes. The two teams last battled in the 2023 tournament in Finland with the U.S. gaining a 3-0 win in preliminary round play. Cutter Gauthier scored a goal in the […]

Published

46 minutes ago

May 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Team USA played its lone pre-tournament game against Germany on Sunday (May 4) in Dusseldorf and came away with a 5-2 victory. Tage Thompsonand Frank Nazar each scored twice for the U.S.

Clayton Keller is the captain of the U.S. Men’s National Team with Brady Skjei, Tage Thompson, and Conor Garland serving as alternate captains.

Team USA features a tested goaltending trio, including NHL stars Joey Daccord from the Seattle Kraken and Jeremy Swayman from the Boston Bruins, as well as college star Hampton Slukynsky, who backstopped the Western Michigan University Broncos to the NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey national championship last month.

Link

College Sports

Cowgirl Golf ranked 25th heading into NCAA Championship

STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State women’s golf team cracked the top 25 for the first time this spring, moving from No. 29 to No. 25 following a strong performance at this week’s NCAA Gold Canyon Regional. The third-place Cowgirls bested No. 17 Auburn, No. 18 Mississippi State and seven others to secure their fifth straight bid […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STILLWATER – The Oklahoma State women’s golf team cracked the top 25 for the first time this spring, moving from No. 29 to No. 25 following a strong performance at this week’s NCAA Gold Canyon Regional.

The third-place Cowgirls bested No. 17 Auburn, No. 18 Mississippi State and seven others to secure their fifth straight bid to the NCAA Women’s Golf Championship, which gets underway next Friday in Carlsbad, Calif.

In addition, three Cowgirls gained ground in individual rankings following top-10 regional finishes. Grace Kilcrease moved from No. 35 to No. 33, Marta Silchenko climbed to No. 77 and Ellie Bushnell checked in at No. 130.

Kilcrease, who was recently named to the All-Big 12 team, tied for third at the Gold Canyon Regional to secure her eighth top-10 finish of the season.

After tying for eighth at the regional, Silchenko jumped from No. 88 to No. 77 in the individual rankings. The sophomore missed the entire fall season to injury but has made up for lost time with three top-10 finishes of her own this spring, including a fifth-place showing at the Big 12 Championship.

Bushnell was the biggest mover, leaping 26 spots to No. 130, after season-best sixth-place regional finish.

For season-long coverage of Oklahoma State women’s golf, visit okstate.com or follow @Cowgirlgolf on social media.

Cowgirls in the Rankings:

Grace Kilcrease – No. 33

Marta Silchenko – No. 77

Ellie Bushnell – No. 130

Thitaporn Saithip – No. 170

Summer Lee – No. 244

Tarapath Panya – No. 328

Lucy Darr – No. 438

Link

College Sports

Gymnastics Inks Vault Specialist Dakota Essenpries

Story Links COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri gymnastics has signed Dakota Essenpries, a vault specialist and transfer from Arkansas, head coach Shannon Welker announced on Friday. The rising junior joins the Tigers after two impactful seasons in Fayetteville, appearing in every vault lineup during the 2025 season. She scored her personal best […]

Published

1 hour ago

May 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri gymnastics has signed Dakota Essenpries, a vault specialist and transfer from Arkansas, head coach Shannon Welker announced on Friday.

The rising junior joins the Tigers after two impactful seasons in Fayetteville, appearing in every vault lineup during the 2025 season. She scored her personal best of 9.900 during the NCAA Championship Second Round at the Pennsylvania regional. During her time as a Razorback, she scored at least a 9.850 seven times.

“Dakota brings high-level talent and character to our team,” Welker said. “She has SEC experience and a passion for Mizzou athletics, having grown up in the Show Me State and family ties to the university. We are excited to see her as a Tiger and represent the Black and Gold.”

Essenpries began her collegiate career in 2024, making her debut against LSU. As a freshman, she earned a season-best score of 9.875 against Nebraska and appeared in nine meets on vault, including the 2024 NCAA Championship Semifinal.

Before college, the Adrian, Missouri native competed for Missouri Elite Gymnastics at level 10 beginning in 2019. She tied for second on vault in her division at the 2023 Developmental Program meet, took second on the apparatus at the Region 4 Championship with a 9.850 and had three top-five finishes at the 2023 Missouri state meet. She was the 2022 regional and state vault champion, finishing top-10 in all three additional events.

Daughter to Toby and Bethany, she was born on July 12, 2005. Essenpries is carrying on her dad’s legacy at Mizzou, who graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Financial Management Services in 2001.

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

For all the latest on Mizzou gymnastics, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Link